Monthly Archives: August 2012

My granddaughter is 12. We’ve been telling stories to each other since she could talk and writing together since she first learned to print. While I write, she observes. She sees that my first draft is never my finished product. I tell her what I’m doing as I edit. Not all kids would be interested, but she is. Her mom and I did the same thing when she was young, and she recently wrote her first novel.

I am co-creating two anthologies for Publishing Syndicate: Not Your Mother’s Book . . . on Grandparenting and Not Your Mother’s Book . . . on Parenting. Publishing Syndicate also has an anthology series called OMG! My Reality! for kids, pre-teens, and teens. My granddaughter recently submitted two stories. I’d like to share a tip on how she decided which stories to write. You might use this same idea with your children or grandchildren. I’m sure they would love to be published and earn royalties!

First, we read the submission guidelines for the OMG! books at http://www.publishingsyndicate.com. My granddaughter made a spreadsheet, listing each type of story suggested on the website: wonderful, courageous, difficult, joyful, funny, and extraordinary. Then, under each of these headings, she entered her ideas. For example, under the heading “wonderful,” she entered these story ideas: Arizona, Hawaii, babysitting, birthday party. Then she went through her entire list and chose two subjects for her stories.

This method can be used for school projects too.

If you like to write with your kids and grandkids, or to write about parenting and grandparenting, go to http://www.publishingsyndicate.com for story guidelines and to submit completed stories. While you’re there, sign up for their free Wow Principles e-newsletter. It’s full of writing tips and story callouts.

Earn dollars while you build a writing platform if your stories are selected for the Not Your Mother’s Book anthologies. There are nearly 40 books in the series, and I’m co-creating the Parenting book and the Grandparenting book. True stories, 500-2500 words, fun, entertaining, and maybe a little edgy . . . that’s what I’m looking for! What’s an edgy story? I think of it as a story that you laugh about at home or that you tell over and over but that you probably wouldn’t tell at church. You know the kind. PG-13 – TV 14 rated. No sad stuff! We get enough of that in the newspapers. It’s summer, and if you’ve been spending time with the grandkids, you probably have some fresh stories to share. Or maybe you have some mighty funny stories about your own grandparents. Don’t make me sit here all night bored while I wait to hear them. Go to http://www.publishingsyndicate.com to read submission guidelines and to turn in your story. Questions? I’m right here. Just ask!

Earn dollars while you build a writing platform if your stories are selected for the Not Your Mother’s Book anthologies. There are nearly 40 books in the series, and I’m co-creating the Parenting book and the Grandparenting book. True stories, 500-2500 words, fun, entertaining, and maybe a little edgy . . . that’s what I’m looking for! What’s an edgy story? I think of it as a story that you laugh about at home or that you tell over and over but that you probably wouldn’t tell at church. You know the kind. PG-13 – TV 14 rated. No sad stuff! We get enough of that in the newspapers. It’s summer, and if you’ve been spending time with the grandkids, you probably have some fresh stories to share. Or maybe you have some mighty funny stories about your own grandparents. Don’t make me sit here all night bored while I wait to hear them. Go to http://www.publishingsyndicate.com to read submission guidelines and to turn in your story. Questions? I’m right here. Just ask!